Holocaust Centre of New Zealand

20/06/2026

Today on #𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗗𝗮𝘆𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, we honour the resilience, strength, and immense contributions of refugees and former refugees to the rich tapestry of Aotearoa New Zealand. Their journeys are an undeniable part of our history.

To help students, teachers, and researchers explore these powerful stories, we have developed two unique educational resources:
🔍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁: Dive into an interactive online repository featuring routes, original documents, and firsthand testimonies of Holocaust survivors and refugees who settled in New Zealand. 👉 Image 1 shows examples.

Head to 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/Legacies-Project

📚 '𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 - 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱' 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Illustrated in a compelling graphic novel style by artist Roger Mason, this portable exhibition explores New Zealand’s response to Jewish refugees and is available for hire by schools across the motu. 👉 Image 2 example.
Head to 🔗 www.holocaustcentre.org.nz/finding-hope---exhibition

19/06/2026

Yesterday, we gathered for an afternoon tea to farewell Ákos, our Austrian Service Abroad volunteer, who concludes his 10-month Memorial service with us next week. National Volunteer Week is such a fitting time to give a special shout-out to Ákos for his contributions.

Ákos has been a powerhouse during his time in New Zealand. He has contributed across many areas—working on our Legacies Project, assisting with our social media, editing videos, supporting events, helping with admin tasks, visitor hosting, assisting our education team, and much more.

To send him off with a piece of Aotearoa New Zealand, we presented him with two meaningful gifts:
📖 "The Violinist" - The moving story of Clare Galambos-Winter, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who made her home in New Zealand. Given Akos's own Hungarian family background, this book beautifully bridges his personal roots with the local history he has worked hard to preserve.
💚 A Pounamu necklace: Specially chosen by our team, this piece features a meaningful design combining the koru and pikorua.

Ákos, we have loved having you as part of our team, and we do hope you will keep in touch and visit in the future.

As we prepare to say goodbye to Ákos, we are looking forward to keeping this wonderful partnership momentum going as we prepare to welcome Vito, our next Austrian volunteer, arriving in September.

Österreichischer Auslandsdienst

18/06/2026

THANK YOU TO OUR HOLOCAUST CENTRE VOLUNTEERS. 💙

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week (14-20 June), we take this opportunity, as we take every opportunity, to thank and acknowledge the amazing team of volunteers that keep the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand running.

From Board members, educators, and visitor hosts, to those assisting with events, research, and special projects—up and down the country, we have a fantastic team of skilled, dedicated individuals keeping Holocaust memory alive and relevant to society here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Volunteers are special people doing meaningful, impactful things. To our volunteers and all volunteers across the motu, thank you.

15/06/2026

//𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁// 𝗟’𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗩’𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁: 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗮𝗵
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀.

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲
🕛 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗺 – 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺 𝗡𝗭𝗦𝗧
📍 𝗜𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 (𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻) 𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺

Professor Paul Morris, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Aotearoa UNESCO Chair in Interreligious Understanding and Relations in New Zealand and the Pacific, will explore Jewish religious responses to the Shoah. Moving beyond the early communal responses, via the theologies of the Shoah, to our post-theodicy era, Professor Morris will take a comprehensive look at the diverse landscape of Jewish religious thought that has emerged in the wake of tragedy.

This presentation will detail a range of pivotal religious responses from thinkers across both Israel and America, examining how contemporary Jewry continues to grapple with the religious meanings of the Holocaust, wrestling with G-d and faith, and its impact in reshaping Jewish identity in the modern world.

Secure your seats today.

How do you maintain faith after tragedy? Prof. Paul Morris explores the profound impact of the Shoah and how modern Jewish theology reshapes its identity.

11/06/2026

12 June. On this day in 1929, Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank was born. Thirteen years later, she received the iconic red-and-white checkered autograph book she had picked out for her birthday. It was the day she began writing the diary that would eventually resonate across generations and, posthumously, make her dream of being a writer come true.

It’s easy to look at Anne as an abstract historical figure, but she was a real teenager. She was witty, moody, observant, and full of hopes and dreams. Her diary started as a simple birthday gift, but it became a voice that antisemitism and war could not silence.

Anne left us with a challenge:
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." — Anne Frank, 26 March 1944

At the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, we keep stories like Anne’s alive, not just to remember the past, but to inspire action against antisemitism and hatred in our communities right now.

🏛️ 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁? Come explore our Centre in Wellington and discover how the lessons of the Holocaust apply to contemporary NZ society.
🚌 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀! History sticks when students connect with real human stories. Book a school trip with us to empower your students to be upstanders, not bystanders.
📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗼 𝗠𝗮̄𝗼𝗿𝗶: Obtain a copy of our published translation, Te Rātaka a Tētahi Kōhine. Available online or onsite.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻? 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱.

See website link in our bio.


Credit: Anne Frank Fonds, Basel

07/06/2026

Join us, as members of the Centre's board and staff present the following Holocaust-related learning experiences 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗗, 𝟭𝟯-𝟭𝟰 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲, 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻:

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿

What does “Never Again” actually require of us? How do we ensure that Holocaust education strengthens responsibility toward living Jews? Drawing on the work of Dara Horn and Deborah Lipstadt, this presentation examines the nexus between Holocaust remembrance and contemporary responsibility in New Zealand, and the challenges of educating about history while confronting antisemitism, misinformation and indifference.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 - 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗖𝗼-𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗼

Can comics address—or even work through—traumatic histories? Approaching comic book structure as a “conversation” with the reader, we will discuss how contemporary artists use the medium to process disastrous events. First, we will look at third-generation Holocaust narratives as a study in memory. Then, we will explore recent works from Israel post-October 7th as a study in real-time crisis. How does the comics medium shift from a tool of secondary witnessing to a mode of documenting direct encounters with atrocity?
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𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗮: 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘇𝗶 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 ​- 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

DIOR, CHANEL, LOUIS VUITTON, HUGO BOSS… In the realm of high fashion and haute couture, an intriguing and often overlooked chapter intertwines with the tumultuous history of N**i Germany. Amidst the political upheaval and cultural transformation, fashion not only survived but also thrived, revealing complex intersections of power, propaganda, and artistic expression. Join us as we delve into the captivating story of how couturiers navigated this era, shaping styles that reflected both conformity and resistance, shedding new light on the enduring influence of fashion amidst adversity.

🎟️ Tickets at:
https://events.humanitix.com/limmud-nz-2026-wellington/tickets

More info on LIMMUD: https://www.limmud.org.nz/

03/06/2026

Submissions are officially open for the Paul Seideman Scholarship 2026. This incredible opportunity is open to all New Zealand students in Years 7 to 13.

To answer the topic posed, submit an essay, write a poem, compose music, create visual art, or film a short video.

Head over to our website for this year's topic and get all the details.👇

🔗 https://www.holocaustcentre.org.nz/paul-seideman-scholarship

Share the news with your students, children, or grandchildren! 👋

31/05/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗜𝗜👑

Today, Monday 1 June 2026, Aotearoa New Zealand officially observes the Sovereign's birthday.

Let's take this moment to acknowledge his long-standing commitment to Holocaust remembrance and his deep respect for the survivor community. He remains a steadfast voice on our collective responsibility to carry this history forward:

"𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻."
— From King Charles' 2025 speech marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Please note the Centre is closed today. We look forward to welcoming you for a visit tomorrow.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆!
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Image: The King speaks with Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, the last remaining survivor of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire.

31/05/2026

//𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁// 𝗟’𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗩’𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁: 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗮𝗵
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
🎟 Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/living-after-the-Holocaust

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲
🕛 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗺 – 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺 𝗡𝗭𝗦𝗧
📍 𝗜𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 (𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻) 𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺

How can one believe in a traditional, all-powerful G-d after the systematic murder of six million Jews? In this L'dor V'dor Talk, Professor Paul Morris, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington and UNESCO Chair, explores Jewish religious responses to the Shoah. Moving beyond the early communal responses, via the theologies of the Shoah, to our post-theodicy era, Professor Morris will take a comprehensive look at the diverse landscape of Jewish religious thought that has emerged in the wake of tragedy.

This presentation will detail a range of pivotal religious responses from thinkers across both Israel and America, examining how contemporary Jewry continues to grapple with the religious meanings of the Holocaust, wrestling with G-d and faith, and its impact in reshaping Jewish identity in the modern world.

29/05/2026

On Wednesday 27th we hosted a deeply impactful L’dor V’dor presentation - The Shadow of 1945 in 1967: Memory, Survival, and the Six-Day War.

Author and Holocaust Centre volunteer Tammar Stein explored the heavy psychological burden carried by the generation of 1967, linking a grandfather's fear of history repeating itself to his soldier son's fierce instinct to protect. It was a moving exploration into family legacy and national memory.

We extend our deepest thanks to Tammar for her incredible insight and to all of our guests for attending in person and online. As one attendee noted, it was an "enthralling remembrance that everyone should see." This presentation will soon be available on our YouTube channel. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/

Save the date for our upcoming L’dor V’dor presentation on Wednesday, 24th June.